“She has begun to learn English, and she speaks very little yet,” added her father.
“I am much glad,” shouted Maria, dancing with delight when she realized that her English had been understood. “I shall forget you never.”
“Beautiful country!” added Scott, flourishing his right hand around him.
“Ver beaut’ful,” cried Maria. “My horse,” and then she pointed at the pony, and made her hands fly up and down in imitation of the feet of the animal.
“Ran away,” replied Scott, completing the sentence when she broke down.
“My horse ran away!” she shouted, with childish vim, though she was not less than sixteen. “You stop my horse. I thank you ver much for what you have did.”
“May I ride your horse?” asked Scott.
“You? ride horse?”
The young officer then indicated what he wanted in pantomime. Don Roderigue declared that the pony had always been very gentle, and had never behaved so badly before since he was a colt. He added that Scott might ride him if he wished to do so. The joker leaped upon his back as lightly as a cat; but the little beast began to rear and plunge and dive in the most extraordinary manner. Scott was a good horseman, and the pony could not throw him.
“I am confident something ails this horse,” said he, dismounting.